"Wilful! Intentional!" Philippa's cheeks grew rosy red, and she
squared her shoulders in her old determined fashion. All the
danger-signals were flying, and if any members of the family had been
present they would have given little indeed for the chances of the
stranger in the battle which loomed ahead. "I think you can hardly mean
to insult me by insinuating that we have deliberately tried to annoy a
neighbour, however wanting in courtesy we may have found him. I presume
the immediate reason of this complaint was the music this morning; but I
may remind you that for the last ten days the piano has not been opened,
as my sister was from home. Does it not strike you as somewhat
unreasonable to complain if a neighbour plays the piano once in a
fortnight?"

"I was not aware that the interval had been so long; but even so, there
ought to be moderation in all things. People who live in these
establishments ought to remember that, however gratifying to their own
tastes it may be to sing comic songs for hours at a stretch"--the thin
lips curved into a barely concealed sneer--"it may be a most painful
penance for their neighbours."

"Even so, I am afraid it was necessary in this case. My sisters were
not practising for their own amusement; strange to say, they also were
at work. It is not necessary to go into details, but I can assure you
that what they were doing was as important to them as your studies are
to yourself. You misjudged them altogether if you supposed they wore
performing for your edification."

"I am sorry if I have made a mistake; though, of course, this was only
one occasion out of many. As a matter of fact I did not intend to speak
of music primarily, but of the other noises, which are more difficult to
explain: a constant tapping outside my study window, for instance, which
has a most trying effect on the nerves, and has made connected thought
impossible every evening during the last week; and an extraordinary
jarring sound which wakes me out of sleep before it is light, so that
not only is my day's work marred, but my nights are disturbed into the
bargain."

Philippa rested her hands on the table and stared at him with distended
eyes. Was the man mad? Was he one of those morbid creatures who
develop hallucinations in their lonely hours, and who, having once
become possessed of an idea, proceed to nurse and coddle it into a
full-grown mania? She tried to keep calm and cool, but her voice